Skip to main content

Apple iOS 4.2 could grease grinding iPhone 3G gears

Attention all forlorn and bitter iPhone 3G users: Apple might actually have a fix for that ill-fated iOS 4 upgrade your phone was subjected to. IPhone 3G users have been complaining that the purportedly improved software is incompatible with the older models’ hardware. Actually, they are more than complaining; one iPhone 3G owner is suing Apple and accusing the company of purposefully creating software that would leave users no choice but to upgrade to the iPhone 4.

Many iPhone 3G users are echoing her accusations, so they could all be somewhat wary about trusting this supposed iOS 4.2 upgrade that could restore their phone’s former functionality. IOS 4 more or less destroyed it, and 4.1 was a mild improvement that didn’t deliver a complete fix. Not to mention that 4.1’s failure to improve issues with the iPhone 4 did little to boost consumer confidence. But now sources are claiming Apple is making amends, and 4.2 delivers.

Recommended Videos

IOS 4.2 is primarily intended for the iPad, but is compatible with the iPod touch and iPhone as well. TiPb, an Apple blog, tested the Golden Master seed (released last week to developers) of 4.2 on the 3G to vastly improved results.  In a video of the demonstration, TiPb shows that the phone is overall much more responsive – text entry and browsing capabilities are quicker and reminiscent of the phone’s promised performance.

Apple’s site reports the upgrade will be available in November, and there are claims it could be as early as this week.

The question for iPhone 3G users clinging to pre-iOS 4 firmware will be: Do you take the leap of faith and upgrade to 4.2, or are you too critical of Apple and bent on avoiding the dreaded “iBrick”? The imminent release of iOS 4.2 should yield the answer.

Molly McHugh
Former Social Media/Web Editor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Your current iPhone battery could last longer with iOS 19, thanks to AI
iOS 19 leak renders with squircle icons.

Imagine downloading a software update for your current iPhone and the battery life getting extended. That could be a reality thanks to iOS 19.

According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we can expect iOS 19 to leverage AI in such a way as to actually improve battery life efficiency on iPhone.

Read more
Apple could finally fix Siri on iPhones with help from Google’s Gemini
Gemini Live on an iPhone.

“Find me a decent coffee shop where I can sit and get work done?” I uttered into my iPhone’s mic. 

“I’ll need to use ChatGPT to write that.” That was Siri’s response in my interaction with Apple’s voice assistant just over a week ago. Google’s Gemini assistant helped me the way I expected it to. 

Read more
I’m using Perplexity iOS Voice Assistant on my iPhone, and it’s better than Siri
Using Perplexity Assistant on an iPhone.

“Hey Siri, book me a table for four people, 7 PM, at Blue Tokai coffee shop in New Friends Colony.”

“Do you want me to use ChatGPT to answer that?”

Read more